KUCHING, Aug 8 — Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg today said that he had recommended to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for former federal minister Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to be the new President of the Dewan Negara.
He said Anwar had conveyed that he wanted to appoint someone who was considered neutral to hold the post.
“Datuk Seri Anwar conveyed to me his problem while we were in a car returning from a function at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, about the appointment of the President of the Dewan Negara.
“So, I told him if you want a neutral person, I suggest you pick someone from Sarawak. It is easy,” Abang Johari said when addressing a dinner to celebrate the appointment of Wan Junaidi as the President of the Dewan Negara.
He said he then suggested Wan Junaidi’s name. But the prime minister asked him if Wan Junaidi would agree to it.
Abang Johari said when he contacted Wan Junaidi later on he immediately agreed and said that he was ready to serve the nation.
“So Anwar had his problem solved,” he said, adding that Wan Junaidi’s appointment is a great honour to Sarawak.
“The fact is that we (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) are helping Anwar. We in Sarawak only want stability in Malaysia.
“We are not siding with any party, we only want Malaysia to have stability,” he said.
Abang Johari said foreign investors will go to other countries if Malaysia is not stable.
“If the country is peaceful, the government is stable and has a high confidence level, foreign investors will come to Malaysia,” he said.
